In this weeks digest: Actions 1. Ask your MP to fix the Infrastructure Bill (Campaign for Better Transport) 2. Tell Defra to take action on air pollution (Biofuelwatch) 3. Call on University of Manchester to go fossil free (Fossil Free Manchester) Events Tue 20 Jan: Frack Free Greater Manchester meeting, Green Fish Wed 21 Jan: Anti-fracking Petition Hand-in and 7 day Countdown (Preston) Wed 21 Jan: MFOE transport campaign meeting, Green Fish Thu 22 Jan: Home film screening, Manchester Museum Tue 27th January 2015. Manchester Friends of the Earth Annual General Meeting and Social Wed 28 Jan: MFOE climate campaign meeting, Green Fish Thu 29 Jan: Demo against fracking in Lancashire, Preston Fri 30 Jan: Bike Friday (various locations) Fri 30 Jan: Saddle Up Refugee Action Fundraiser, Levenshulme Sat 7 - Sun 8 Feb: Reclaim the Power National Gathering, (No Dash for Gas), Manchester Mon 9 Feb: State of the Climate: Towns and Cities, Manchester Tue 10 Feb: Behind the Headlines: Fracking - friend or foe? (Guardian), Manchester Advance Notice: Sat 14 Feb: FOE North West Gathering, Green Fish Fri 20 Feb: An Evening of Entertainment - Fundraiser, Whalley Range. News 1. GM crops: What do the new rules mean? (BBC) 2. Companies will be legally required to reveal chemicals used for fracking (Guardian) 3. Engaging with oil companies on climate change is futile, admits leading UK environmentalist (Guardian) 4. TTIP: Activists triumph as contentious US free trade deal clause suspended (Independent) If youre a social media fan, dont forget that you can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter. This digest is compiled by volunteers and is kindly sponsored byGaeia. If you come across anything of interest for future digests, please email us or add it to our wiki - all contributions welcome! -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ACTIONS -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Ask your MP to fix the Infrastructure Bill (Campaign for Better Transport) Its been described by George Monbiot as the Climate Change Acts evil twin. The Infrastructure Bill is now at the most crucial stage in Parliament, and we need your help to get your MP voting for important changes to protect local communities and support walking & cycling. We now know that all the final votes will happen on Monday 26th January. Write to your MP now and ask them to vote the right way: bettertransport.org.uk/roads-nowhere/infra-bill-vote -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Tell Defra to take action on air pollution (Biofuelwatch) Defra is consulting on plans to slash air quality monitoring and reporting, and scrap legal limits for four air pollutants – two of which happen to be of particular concern in relation to fracking. tell Defra to scrap their plans, to go back to the drawing board, and to come up with a plan to reduce, not hide air pollution: biofuelwatch.org.uk/2015/defra-alert/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Call on University of Manchester to go fossil free (Fossil Free Manchester) Sign a petition calling on the University of Manchester to disinvest from fossil fuels, stop the greenwash and support a clean energy future for all: bit.ly/fossilfreemcr -------------------------------------------------------------------------- EVENTS -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tue 20 Jan: Frack Free Greater Manchester meeting, Green Fish Agenda items will include: * Reports from local groups * Updates on exploratory drilling at Ellesmere Port, the Fylde etc. * Climate Change, Time to Act demo is in London on Saturday March 7th When: 7.15pm, Tuesday 20th January Where: Green Fish Resource Centre, 46-50 Oldham Street, Manchester, M4 1LE More info: frackfreegtrmanchester.org.uk/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wed 21 Jan: Anti-fracking Petition Hand-in and 7 day Countdown (Preston) With just 7 days until Lancashire County Council decides whether to allow Cuadrilla to frack in Lancashire, join us in Preston as we hand in our anti-fracking petition to Council Leader Jennifer Mein. Bring along your placards and banners ready to show the level of opposition to fracking in Lancashire. After the demo join us upstairs in the Station Hotel for tea and coffee and a chat about next steps. Latest details on Facebook event page https://facebook/events/1561108674104194/ When: 9am - 11am, Wednesday 21st January Where: Outside County Hall in Preston, PR1 8RL --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wed 21 Jan: MFOE transport campaign meeting, Green Fish Come along and join our busy transport campaign. All welcome. Agenda will include: - Getting Moving - our cycling manifesto - Bike Friday - events, campaigns and activities for 2015. When: 6.30pm - 9.00pm, Wednesday 21st January Where: Green Fish Resource Centre, 46-50 Oldham St, Manchester M4 1LE More info: Please email [email protected] if youre planning to attend, or to find out more. --------------------------------------------------------- Thu 22 Jan: Home film screening, Manchester Museum Manchester Film Co-op invite you to a screening of Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s film ‘HOME’. This documentary film, narrated by Glenn Close, is almost entirely composed of aerial shots of various places on Earth. It shows the diversity of life on Earth and how humanity is threatening the ecological balance of the planet. This visually stunning footage has now been seen by over 6 million people worldwide. The film will be screened in Manchester Museum’s Living World Gallery, which also inspires us to think about humanity’s actions and the fine balance needed for all living things to share this world. Book your free seat(s) by emailing [email protected] or ringing 0161 275 2648 – donations for Manchester Film Co-Op will be gratefully accepted at the door. When: 6pm, Thursday 22nd January Where: Living World Gallery, Manchester Museum, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL More info: events.manchester.ac.uk/event/event:kmi-i31eu9y8-3hlm0e ------------------------------------------------------------- Tue 27 Jan: MFOE Annual General Meeting & social, Green Fish Join us for our Annual General Meeting at which well present our review of the year and give members the opportunity to elect group officers for 2015. The AGM will be followed by a social - details to follow. When: AGM 6.30pm - 7.15pm, social from 7.30pm, Tuesday 27th January Where: Green Fish Resource Centre, 46-50 Oldham Street, Manchester, M4 1LE More info: Email [email protected] --------------------------------------------------------- Wed 28 Jan: MFOE climate campaign meeting, Green Fish Join us to find out the latest on fracking, our local campaign on greening rented homes, and FOEs new national campaign on community energy. All welcome. When: 7pm - 8.30pm, Wednesday 28th January Where: Green Fish Resource Centre, 46-50 Oldham St, Manchester M4 1LE More info: Please email [email protected] if youre planning to attend, or to find out more. --------------------------------------------------------- Thu 29 Jan: Demo against fracking in Lancashire, Preston Join local residents as we show our opposition to Cuadrillas plans to frack near Little Plumpton. At 10am Lancashire County Councils planning committee will be meeting to decide whether to approve Cuadrillas plans to frack near Little Plumpton. So lets meet at 9am outside - bring along your placards and banners and help make some noise to show the Council just how much opposition there is to these plans. Please share this event and invite along your friends and neighbours. Latest details on Facebook event page: https://facebook/events/674810009298656/ When: 9am - 10am, Thursday 29th January Where: Outside County Hall in Preston, PR1 8RL -------------------------------------------------------- Fri 30 Jan: Bike Friday (various locations) Normally, held on the last Friday of the month, Bike Friday is a set of led commuter rides into Manchester from various starting places around Greater Manchester. Most rides leave at 8am but check the website as they vary depending on the distance from Manchester. Rides finish at the Eastern Bloc coffee shop (5A Stevenson Square, M1 1DN), in Manchester City Centre. Whether youre new to cycling, returning to your bike after a break, or cycle every day, join us on Bike Friday. We ride at a moderate pace and have experienced ride leaders. It is entirely law-abiding - we do not try to slow down the traffic. All welcome (bring a bike). Contact: [email protected] or [email protected] More info: bikefriday.org ----------------------------------------------- Fri 30 Jan: Saddle Up Refugee Action Fundraiser, Levenshulme A night of dancing to raise funds for Refugee Actions Wellbeing Project. We aim to raise funds to provide refurbished bikes for refugees within Greater Manchester, to help them get about happily, healthily and safely. Come dance and have fun, with our fantastic line-up: Vicky Richardson, Graham Scott and Rash Yaman. Expect a mixture of music old and new! Admission £5 Latest details on Facebook event page. https://facebook/events/1508216102772012/ When: 8pm - 1am, Friday 30th January Where: Klondyke Club, Burnage Range, Levenshulme, Manchester, M19 2HQ -------------------------------------------------- Sat 7 - Sun 8 Feb: Reclaim the Power National Gathering, (No Dash for Gas), Manchester Following on from last summers action camp in Blackpool and a hot autumn of protest and solidarity, this is the first NATIONAL get-together for the Reclaim the Power network to discuss plans for 2015. A full detailed agenda will be posted up soon - but it will include outlining possibilities for action in the coming year and our response to the UN COP21 Climate Talks in Paris in December 2015. You can expect to: *Meet GREAT people* *Plan EXCITING action* *Hear INSPIRING news from across the UK* *Eat LOVELY food* Bring your friends, bring your family - the venue in Manchester is fully accessible. ALL welcome. Latest details on the Facebok event page: https://facebook/events/607546442707882/?ref=3&ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular When: 12noon Saturday 7th - 5pm Sunday 8th February Where: MERCi, Bridge 5 Mill, 22a Beswick Street, Manchester, M4 7HR ------------------------------------------------------------ Mon 9 Feb: State of the Climate: Towns and Cities, Manchester The North West Climate Change Partnership and Climate UK are delivering a series of ‘State of the Climate’ events in early 2015. The events bring together practitioners and strategic thinkers from across the public, private and third sectors to consider some of the key climate change challenges that we face and identify innovative solutions for the future. This session explores what the current climate change trajectory means for our towns and cities. As part of this we will be looking at the latest climate science, and examining: What are the impacts, what are the big challenges around demographics, rapid urbanisation, globalisation, resource scarcity and communications, what are the interdependencies, what does this mean for us and how do we respond? When: 4.30 for 5pm - 7.30pm, Monday 9th February Where: Central Manchester venue TBC More info & booking: eventbrite.co.uk/e/14562445667 ------------------------------------------------ Tue 10 Feb: Behind the Headlines: Fracking - friend or foe? (Guardian), Manchester To frack, or not to frack, is arguably the most pressing environmental decision facing the greenest government ever at present. Join us to discuss this question. Fracking, the hydraulic fracturing of shale gas, looks set to be given the green light in the UK, with strong government backing against ongoing public concern and protest. As Green party peer Jenny Jones describes political debate as very dispiriting and accusations of government breezily ignoring climate implications, it is time to have this debate, with our panel of writers and experts asking: what are the real risks of fracking? Will it provide an important economic opportunity for the UK? Is it, as James Lovelock advises, a lesser evil than coal that will buy us some time as a bridging technology? Or will it harm the environment and exacerbate climate change? And what are the real health risks? The debate will be chaired by head of environment at the Guardian, Damian Carrington. Behind the Headlines is a live series that dissects and debates some of the most prominent new stories of the time, hearing from the people making and shaping the news itself. Tickets cost £15. https://membership.theguardian/event/14973561325 When: 7pm-9.30pm, Tuesday 10 February Where: Friends Meeting House, 6 Mount Street, Manchester, M2 5NS ---------------------------------------------------- Fri 13 / Sat 14 Feb: Global Divestment Day 350.org and its partners have called on people everywhere to take part in the first ever Global Divestment Day this coming February 13 and 14. Already people in Europe,North America, Africa, Latin America, Oceania and Asia are planning how to take their fossil fuel divestment campaigning to a new level. From mass actions in the world’s financial centres to sit-ins,vigils and banner drops at university campuses, community centres, churches, town halls and banks across the world, the pins on the Global Divestment Day actions map are multiplying rapidly. More information: gofossilfree.org/6-reasons-global-divestment-day/ ---------------------------------------------------- Sat 14 Feb: Friends of the Earth NW Gathering, Manchester Kick start your year - It’s time for the annual North West Gathering! Catch-up with Friends of the Earth members and local groups from across the region. All welcome! Book your free place here: northwestfoe.eventbrite.co.uk/ Whats on... - Hear news from across the region with regional campaigner Helen Rimmer - Network, connect and make links with people taking action across your region - Find out the latest on hot topics such as devolution and fracking - Join training, workshops and discussion on local, national and international issues - The latest news on local and nation campaigns Refreshments will be provided, but please bring lunch or a dish to share. We would love to hear more ideas for the agenda - email: [email protected] We really hope to see you there! Spread the word to your networks. Updates via the Facebook page https://facebook/events/1534328353482789/ Looking forward to seeing you, Carla and Helen When: 10am-5pm, Saturday 14th February Where: Green Fish Resource Centre, 46-50 Oldham Street, Manchester, M4 1LE --------------------------------------------------------------- Fri 20 Feb: An Evening of Entertainment - Fundraiser, Whalley Range. Join us for an evening of colourful entertainment as we raise money for three wonderful local causes! All money raised will be donated to Action for Sustainable Living, Clean Up Salford and Manchester Friends of the Earth. On the bill we have: Comedy by Joe Collett: Joe is back to tickle your funny bone once again! Expect chuckles a plenty from this renowned Manchester comedian! https://facebook/joecollettcomedy?fref=ts Steetdance by Chantelle and Shauntea: Street dance requires immense concentration for precision of movement, whilst flaunting the dancers own style. Chantelle and Shauntea from the Kyso youth talent group will be demonstrating their own unqiue freestyle performances that will not fail to blow you away! https://twitter/kysoclub Beat boxing by Syphon: Another talented member of Kyso! Syphon has impressed many audiences with his phenomenal vocal sounds. https://twitter/kysoclub Bellydancing and Live Drumming with Soul Monkey and Sofire: Sofire and Soul Monkey are teaming up to perform an improvised bellydance to drumming. Fusing Arabic dance with the Africa drum, this duo will have you shaking your hips in your seats! Music by Lucy and Virginia: This lovely folk duo have entertained many audiences throughout Manchester with their hypnotic sounds. Grab a drink, sit back and enjoy! https://facebook/lucyandvirginiamusic?fref=ts Burlesque by Miss Suzie Sequin: The stunningly beautiful Miss Suzie Sequin will be seducing you with one her most famous routines. This international starlet never fails to get pulses racing with her dazzling costumes and vintage moves! https://twitter/suziesequin Your compere for the evening will be no other than the feisty Courtney Lovelace! Doors open at 7.30pm, show starts at 8.15pm. Advanced tickets will be £4 from Eventbrite (+ 75p booking fee), and £5 on the door. The event was a complete sell out last time so please dont leave it last minute to avoid disappointment. https://20thfeb.eventbrite.co.uk/ There will be fantastic raffle prizes to be won and a DJ until late! Not to be missed! When: 7.30pm - late, Friday 20th February When: Carlton Club, Rowan Lodge, 113 Carlton Road, Whalley Range, Manchester, M16 8BE -------------------------------------------------------------------------- NEWS -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. GM crops: What do the new rules mean? (BBC) The European Parliament has approved new rules on GM crops, designed to break the stalemate between pro and anti-GM countries. bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-30796293 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Companies will be legally required to reveal chemicals used for fracking (Guardian) Infrastructure bill amendments on ground water pollution and ‘well-by-well disclosure’ accepted, but Labour maintains regulation is still flawed: theguardian/environment/2015/jan/14/companies-will-be-legally-required-to-reveal-chemicals-used-for-fracking ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Engaging with oil companies on climate change is futile, admits leading UK environmentalist (Guardian) After years working on sustainability projects with BP and Shell, Jonathon Porritt says he came to the conclusion it was ‘impossible’ for today’s oil and gas companies to adapt to the need to exit fossil fuels theguardian/environment/2015/jan/15/engaging-with-oil-companies-climate-change-futile-admits-leading-environmentalist 4. TTIP: Activists triumph as contentious US free trade deal clause suspended (Independent) A proposed free trade deal between the European Union and the United States has suffered a huge setback after the most controversial element was taken off the negotiating table in the face of huge public opposition in Britain and other parts of Europe. independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ttip-activists-triumph-as-contentious-us-free-trade-deal-clause-suspended-9976090.html Thank you for your support Contact us
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 11:43:49 +0000
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